Singapore’s Como to run Yamu hotel on Phuket’s east coast
Computer generated image of The Yamu, as envisaged before the arrival of the global financial crisis. The final result may look very different.
Construction has resumed on The Yamu, the five-star-plus resort on the east coast of Phuket, which was stalled by the Global Financial Crisis, after developers Campbell Kane (CK) found a new backer, Singapore’s Hotel Properties Ltd (HPL).
HPL is controlled by Ong Beng Seng, and already has Four Seasons and Hard Rock Hotels in Asia in its portfolio. Ong also owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix and the city-state’s first Ferrari dealership.
Originally, the hotel was to have been run by Adrian Zecha’s GHM (Zecha is the man behind Aman Resorts), but CK and GHM parted ways about a year ago. It has now been announced that a management agreement has been signed with Como Hotels and Resorts, also based in Singapore, which already runs high-end resorts and hotels in London, Bangkok, Bali, Bhutan, the Maldives and the Turks & Caicos Islands.
The hotel, which will be known as The Yamu by Como, is now set to open in September next year.
‘”The addition of this Phuket property is aligned with Como Hotels and Resorts’ expansion plans within the region, supporting our growth strategy to include key destinations within the Como portfolio,” says Harry Apostolides, Vice President of Business Development, Como Hotels and Resorts.
Original design by Philippe Starck for a room at The Yamu. Whether Starck will come back on board under the new ownership is "not yet decided".
“This new Como resort will be our second Thai property, after the Metropolitan in Bangkok. These two properties will, in concert, showcase both the vibrancy and serenity of Thailand. Phuket is one of the top tourist destinations in the region, and we have focused on its east coast— an area of outstanding natural beauty and great biodiversity.”
Peter Hamilton, Managing Director of Campbell Kane, added, “We are pleased to be working with Como Hotels and Resorts on this venture. Como’s range of properties and the experiences they offer continue to redefine luxury travel.”
The hotel may end up looking very different from the original concept. For example, the original plan included an exclusive hotel within the hotel, the Club Villas, with its own dedicated hotel facilities. Hamilton told the Observer that there will be pool villas, but whether they will be run as a separate enclave is “not yet decided”.
Also not yet decided is whether the property will have a state-of-the-art recording studio, as was originally planned.
The earlier concept also included gorgeous design by Philippe Starck, probably the world’s best-known designer. Whether he will be involved now, Hamilton said, is also “not yet decided”.
One facility that has survived the ups and downs, however, is the 100-metre pool, hanging in thin air at one end.
